The Christchurch Botanic Gardens are urging people to keep their eyes out for a rare and fashionable houseplant that was stolen from the gardens.
A variegated monstera – one of the world’s most prized indoor plants – went missing from the gardens earlier this month. 
Its distinctive white and green leaves make it valuable on the black market.
Plant enthusiast Will Page told Heather du Plessis-Allan lockdown has caused some bored plant lovers to take things to far.
"This isn't even the first time a plants been stolen from the Botanic Gardens.
"There was another variegated plant that got stolen from one of the North Island botanical gardens."
It's estimated that a cutting of the plant could be worth $3000.
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